129 - Buddhist book cover

Buddhist book cover Carved wood with traces of gilding, an antique patina, small cracks, and signs of age. Tibet, 16th–17th century 18.2 x 42.8 cm Provenance, according to the information provided: former collection of Éric Chazot, Paris. Within a molded frame adorned with foliage motifs, three principal figures sit on ornate thrones, accompanied by smaller figures. The precision of the gestures, the delicacy of the ornamentation, and the scrollwork populated by fantastical animals attest to particularly meticulous sculptural craftsmanship. The remnants of gilding catch the light and lend depth to this miniature architecture. In the center, the right hand pointing toward the earth likely depicts Śākyamuni at the moment of Enlightenment. On the left, the figure appears to display the attributes of Prajñāpāramitā, the personification of the Perfection of Wisdom. On the right, the meditating figure could be Amitābha or Amitāyus. This pairing, commonly found on the covers of Buddhist texts, suggests a connection to the teachings of the Perfection of Wisdom. Intended to protect the loose leaves of a pothi-format book, this tablet also expressed, through the richness of its decoration, the sacred value of the Buddha’s words. General Bibliography Kathryn H. Selig Brown, *Protecting Wisdom: Tibetan Book Covers from the MacLean Collection*, Prestel, 2012.